HONDA VFR 1200 FD-A

1237cc Petrol Class 2

#919 of 5426 overall #104 of 921 HONDAs #560 of 2787 other bikes

90.1%

first-time pass rate

7.0%

failed outright

14,757

median miles at test

2,022

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The VFR 1200 FD-A's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.2 points since 2013, 93.1% to 87.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VFR 1200 FD-A's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VFR 1200 FD-A passes first time 94.1% of the time; by 50k that's 75.7%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a VFR 1200 FD-A

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	89	43.2	0.8×
tyres and wheels	29	14.1	0.7×
suspension	20	9.7	1.1×
tyres	14	6.8	0.9×
steering and suspension	14	6.8	0.2×
steering	11	5.3	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	11	5.3	0.3×
lighting and signalling	7	3.4	0.1×
structure and attachments	7	3.4	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	4	1.9	0.3×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the VFR 1200 FD-A beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the VFR 1200 FD-A.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2011 (90.9% pass). Weakest: 2010 (89.1%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

HONDA VFR 1200 FD-A FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VFR 1200 FD-A reliable?

The HONDA VFR 1200 FD-A is more reliable than average for its class: 90.1% of its 2,022 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #919 of 5426 models.

What does a VFR 1200 FD-A fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 43% of all defects recorded against failed VFR 1200 FD-A tests.

What is the best year of VFR 1200 FD-A to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (90.9%) and 2010 worst (89.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VFR 1200 FD-A last?

The median VFR 1200 FD-A shows 14,757 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.